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Red Rock Elementary news scores a big 'get'

The news team at Red Rock Elementary School had a special guest for the taping of its show Feb. 8. Dawn Mitchell, news anchor and sports reporter for FOX 9, sat for an interview by sports anchors Kailey Scheller and Lucy Kelly. Scheller invited Mitchell to be on the show, even though some of her classmates told her it was a long shot.

"I love football," said Scheller, 11. "I"ve always thought she was an inspiration for being a sports reporter or a news anchor."

Mitchell accepted the invitation after she saw a message Scheller had left for her on Facebook.

Working from a script, Scheller and Kelly asked Mitchell about last week's Super Bowl victory by the New England Patriots.

"Dawn, what was it like to be at the Super Bowl witnessing football history?" Scheller asked.

Mitchell said she was thrilled because she grew up in Boston and is a Patriots fan. She couldn't let her feelings show, however, because journalists can't pick a side.

She told the students to be true to themselves and not let anyone discourage them from pursuing their dreams.

"If it's in your heart and you really want to do it, don't let anybody stop you," she said.

The three also discussed the injury status of Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and Super Bowl 52, which will be played in Minneapolis next year.

William Loeffler is a playwright and journalist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He worked 15 years writing features for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He has also written travel stories based on his trips to all seven continents. He and his wife, Michelle, ran the Boston Marathon in 2009.